Objectives

Performance analysis of practical energy conversion systems primarily from thermodynamic viewpoint, Analysis of environmental impact of energy conversion processes.

Course content

The course covers thermodynamic analysis of various energy systems such as combustion engines, solar, thermal, and nuclear power plants, electrochemical energy conversion, refrigeration, and air-conditioning. The course also includes environmental impact of energy conversion and sustainable technologies for energy conversion.

Total number of lectures: 40

Lecturewise breakup

1. Introduction: 1 Lecture

• Energy resources and conversion systems, world energy mix and status.

2. Thermal Energy Conversion: 15 Lectures

• Fuel and Combustion: fuel, stoichiometric ratio, heat of combustion, adiabatic flame temperature, chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, pollutant formation and control strategies.5 Lectures

• IC engines: Classification of IC engines, terminology, theoretical vs. actual engine, valve timing diagrams of four-stroke spark-ignition and compression ignition engine, supercharging, turbocharging, engine performance parameters, combustion in CI engine, combustion in SI engine, detonation and diesel knock. 5 Lectures

• Power Plant: Theoretical vs. actual thermal power plant (steam/gas cycle), regenerative stages and plant efficiency, Properties of coal, large (~100MW) coal-fired boilers, coal gasifier integrated gasification combined cycle (turbine details will not be covered). 5 Lectures

3. Nuclear Energy: 3 Lectures

• Nuclear fuel physics, fuel type, nuclear reactor type, Indian nuclear program.

4. Sustainable Energy Conversion: 13 Lectures

• Environmental Impact: Consequences of pollutants from classical energy conversion on the environment and climate. 1 Lectures

• Fuel Cells and Batteries: Thermodynamics of fuel cell and battery, current-voltage calculation, theoretical vs. actual performance, types of fuel cells and batteries, thermal management. 6 Lectures

• Solar thermal and photovoltaic:performance and efficiency calculation, solar thermal and thermochemical energy storage, photovoltaic, solar thermal integration with conventional power plant. 6 Lectures

5. Refrigeration and Air- conditioning: 6 Lectures

• Introduction to refrigeration and heat pump systems, cop, refrigerating effect, types of refrigerants, characteristics and performance, chemical and physical requirements, vapor compression cycle: real cycle, multi-stage and cascade refrigeration systems, vapour absorption refrigeration cycle, solar refrigeration systems, psychrometric processes, air-conditioning, process analysis using psychrometric charts .

Other topics: 2 Lectures

• Biomass, wind energy, tidal energy, geothermal energy, gas hydrates etc. (few important topics, as decided by the instructor, will be covered.

Recommended books

Textbooks

1. Principles of Energy Conversion, Culp A W, McGraw-Hill, India, 2nd ed.

Reference books

1. Energy Conversion Systems, Sorensen H, John Wiley & Sons, USA

2. Internal Combustion Engine Fundamental, Heywood J B, McGraw-Hill, USA, 2nd ed.

3. An Introduction to Combustion, Turns S T, McGraw-Hill, USA, 3rd ed.

4. Principles of Refrigeration, Dossat R, Pearson India, 4th ed.

5. Electrochemical Systems, Newman J, John Wiley & Sons, USA, 3rd ed.

Proposing instructors: Dr. M.K. Das, Dr. Santanu De, Dr. Abhishek Sarkar, Dr. A. K. Agarwal